Has anyone recently been to Rome or Firenze that can tell me of any problems they may have had with pickpockets or others? Wher to avoid and how did oyu handle it?

Have not been pickpocketed in Italy on three trips but lost my wallet in the train station in Amsterdam. No matter how careful you are, the pros will get you if you are not careful and you will never sense it is happening. Get travel pants with zippered inside pockets, use a money belt and make sure you guard your passport carefully. make sure you copy your credit card numbers down. If you travel with someone, each person should keep a different credit card so that if one is stolen you are not out of commission. Get American Express. Other cards may take a week to deliver a replacement.

Was in Rome a month ago; had no problem with pickpockets.

If you adhere to all those tips for avoiding pickpockets in all the tour guides or throughout posts on this board, you'll never know any pickpockets are around. If you don't, you'll have a story to tell upon your return.

This wasn't in Rome... but in Paris, my son was pickpocketed at the Musee d'Orsay. We're pretty sure it was very near the sign that warned to beware of pickpockets. We were told that area was especially vulnerable because people instinctively touch the place where they've got their valuables. My son had his in a side-of-the-pants-leg pocket. After that, my husband stopped making fun of my "paranoia." Luckily, they didn't get husband's pocket, where the losses would have been greater.

Hi Joseph. We were in Rome last March. While we weren't hit by any pickpockets, we'd ridden in on the train from the airport with another couple, ran into them near the Pantheon two days later, and the woman had been pickpocketed on one of the buses. However, what precautions she might have failed to take, we didn't know. <BR><BR>My suggestion: don't put anything in ANY of your pockets -- even your front ones -- that you can't afford to lose. Keep all valuables (cash, ATM & credit card, etc.) in a money belt/pouch hidden underneath your clothes.

I was in Rome last spring and, despite considering myself well-traveled and informed, was the victim of those pesty, roving bands of "gypsy" children who roam the subway cars looking for American victims. I always travel with a money belt, but kept a few lire in my front pocket for gelato, water or other items. The young thieves are absolute masters at emptying your pockets before you even board the subway car. BE WARNED! The little thieves are all over the Rome subway system, particularly the busiest stations near major tourist attractions (I was victimized on the way to the Colosseum). We also had a young lady attempt to empty one of our backpacks, right in front of the other subway riders (locals don't care if tourists are robbed). I've visited Europe many, many times and always use public transport. This last trip to Rome, however, seems the pickpockets are everywhere. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!

My husband was the target of a pickpocket teenager in Paris, he caught the kid with is hand in his backpack. He punched him the head so hard, I thought I heard his skull crack. He then turned to the thiefs friends and asked who was next? the other tourists and locals who witnessed the whole thing started clapping. I was crying, thinking that we had just started an international incident and the gendarms (police) who showed up told my husband that that kid got what he deserved. I do not recommend attempting to thwart the thief, but my hubby said this made him so mad that he just let loose with out thinking about the consequences.My hubby is 6'31/2 and 260 lbs, so I don't know what this kid was thinking. As for Italy, was just there in the fall and people pretty much stay away from my spouse because of his size and he has that don't mess with me look. I guess this comes from being a combat photographer in the military.

I find it almost comical, the amount of doom and glooming about "roaming bands of pickpocket gypsies everywhere in Rome". I spent a week in Rome recently, very modest accomodations (i.e., not "protected" by the security cushion money can provide) and I have to wonder, where exactly in god's name did you see all of these evildoers, Paul? Since they ere "everywhere", you should be able to be more specific than "all over the Rome subway system, particularly the busiest stations near major tourist attractions". (Troll alert...?)I was "all over" the major tourist attractions, and didn't see anything at all like what you describe, anywhere. If there's a shred of truth anywhere in your tale of woe, it was no doubt because trouble seems to inevitably visit those who go out of their way looking for it. Get a grip!

To Zzzzzz: so, because you didn't have any problems with pickpockets when you were in Rome for a week, you doubt a problem exists? Hmmm.<BR>We were in Rome for a week last summer and didn't have any problem at all for the first 4 days (although I was certainly aware that there must be a problem, since our party was told by bus drivers, on the train, and at attractions to be careful of pickpockets). We had under-the-shirt moneybelts, and I had a tiny purse (for a lipstick and some change), worn bandoliero style. On the 5th day, we were targeted on 2 different occasions on the metro -- one by a gypsy child who tried to pick my husband's empty front pocket -- and 2 in our party were targeted by 3 teenage girls later in the afternoon. Fortunately, we had heeded the warnings we received and lost nothing.<BR>There are certainly adept pickpockets around, and I would take precautions, be alert, and not scoff off the warnings.

We were there for eight days last March and saw only one group of, presumably, gypsy kids, three of them, who were pestering an elderly couple on the way to the Colosseum. The couple brushed them off, and they didn't even approach us at all, maybe because we were younger (and I was smacking my black leather gloves together while trying to look as mean as possible :~)<BR><BR>But I've little doubt that groups (or, if one prefers, gangs) of kids -- gypsy or otherwise -- do prowl the streets, buses, and subways of Rome. Not every square centimeter, but they're there, and one is wise to take precautions.

I am going to Italy alone in May. What are these "precautions" that everyone keeps referring to? I have been to Europe a few times before and I usually carry a small backback in which I keep local currency, one credit card, maps etc. While on buses and subways, I take the backpack off my back and loop it several times around my hands so I can keep it in my field of vision and so I can hold on to it very tightly. I leave my passport, plane tickets and the other credit card back at the hotel. What other tips do you have?

Hi Dawn. My suggestion for precaution, noted in my first post above, was: don't put anything in ANY of your pockets -- even your front ones -- that you can't afford to lose. Keep all valuables (cash, ATM & credit card, etc.) in a money belt/pouch hidden underneath your clothes. <BR><BR>What you do is certainly good, but I would bet there are numerous people who have stories of backpacks/purses/etc. that they feel they've always kept within their field of vision, and yet have had valuables stolen from them. <BR><BR>Now, does this mean if you continue to do what you do, you're guaranteed to be a victim of a pickpocket eventually? Absolutely not. But, in my opinion, your odds are higher than that of a person who carries valuables in a money belt/pouch hidden underneath their clothes.

got picke pocket in rome last summer---getting on the #64 bus ---my friends in front of me were struggling with thief #1 when i (right behind them) tried to assist ,thief #2 got my money (80 bucks0 from my pocket(frontal) as i grabbed thief #1 i have to admire their skill because they are very organized and adept but it is very frustrating

Of course it doesn't happen to every tourist, but there is always the first time it happens to you to wake you up.<BR>Be aware on an elevator also, in the parking structure in Monaco, a teen girl was upzipping and reaching into my friend's backpack and didn't know I was with her. The other people on the elevator just watched passively. I lunged at her and slapped her hand, she said something in some language and the other people snickered and looked at me like I has weird.

Hi,<BR><BR>Last summer someone tried to pick my husbands pocket in the subway going to the Vatican. Two years ago a group of people (very neat ordinary looking) tried to pick pocket him on the subway in Paris. There was a scuffle and they fled as soon as the doors of the subway opened. Also, on that trip someone broke into our hotel room when we were at dinner and stole two camers. Fortunately we had all our important papers, credit cards, passport with us. They opened our locked suitcases. Since then we are always on alert. A women we were with in Rome had her wallet stolen near the Coloseum. Wear a money belt. Put all your money and credit cards, passport, and airline tickets in this belt. Only have enough money for the day in your pocket. Keep a look out. You will be Ok and you will have a great time.<BR><BR>

I don't know about Rome these days but I can tell you to beware the pickpockets in Dublin.<BR>I was alarmed myself at what the Garda (police) told us about this while we filed a report.<BR>Seems Americans are particular targets.<BR>His recommendation was wear a money belt. Backpacks are not safe. <BR>I caught a 20 something girl removing my wallet from mine.

I have never had a problem, but have talked to those that have. One couple had their credit card on the night stand in their hotel room and it disappeared during housekeeping service while they were in the room. It was the only one they had taken to Rome and the bank didn't get it replaced while they were there.

I too was pickpocketed in Dublin, at the Dublin airport.<BR>\<BR>The local cabby told me it's getting to be a regular problem with all the Bosnian gypsies there.

We were also pickpocketed last year in Rome. Luckily they got nothing because we all were prepared, that meaning our money belts were hidden under our clothes. My money was in a zippered compartment on my chest. They rifled through my backpack on the bus and at the flea market. I only kept water and maps in the backpack, even the locals told me to hold my pack in the front!!!<BR>Buses are bad because they squeeze you in, our pickpockets were not kids, they were adults. Many people at the flea market told us they were hit, my husband saw one at work on a backpack. The guy felt her and tried to hit her, she just walked off like nothing happened. Same with me, this young lady's hand was in my pack, when I reached around, she just walked off like nothing happened. Then later we saw her and her partner showing each other their booty. Just BE CAREFUL and more importantly BE AWARE.